Solar investment makes good sense

Solar investment is growing as residents, business and cities alike find that renewable energy makes sense. Texas is becoming a leader in solar energy, adding solar capacity that includes residential solar rooftops, large infrastructure projects and major businesses making significant investments in solar energy.

Though solar and other renewable energy sources may initially attract attention because of environmental concerns, it is their bottom line impact that is most frequently sited when the decision is made to invest in renewable energy. Helping to reduce pollution and contributing to a cleaner environment are secondary to the economic benefits.

Across Texas, cities are recognizing the power of solar to save their residents and businesses money on their electric bills. In addition to Austin, here are some other Texas cities that have recently made headlines for their commitment to or exploration of the benefits of going solar.

Houston was recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Green Power Partner for their initiative that incorporates renewable energy into the cities electric utility program. With the aim of saving Houstonians money on their monthly bills, the city created a plan to use both wind energy and solar investment to save over $1.9 million dollars during the life of the project.

Georgetown, Texas has made numerous headlines in recent years as they invested in solar and wind production facilities. For this Texas city just north of Austin, a rational evaluation of all the alternatives showed that investing in the production of wind and solar would be the best way to manage the cost of energy over the coming decades. Like residential consumers, the city decided to invest in solar because they take the long view. Over time, owning the means to produce your own renewable energy protects against the ups and downs in the marketplace.

In late October of this year, the city of Denton attracted positive notice as they revealed the plan presented by a consulting group tasked with determining the best way to manage their public utility for the benefit of residents. The analysis predicts that by purchasing a combination of solar and wind generated electricity, Denton Municipal Electric (DME) can convert to using solely renewable resources in the near future. DME is a public utility, owned by the residents of the city. The utility board is currently evaluating adoption of the proposal.

For Texas residents, business and municipalities, solar, wind and other renewables represent an opportunity to grow something every city needs: jobs. Today, renewable energy production and associated services bring jobs to local economies. Who doesn’t want to save money, keep our environment clean and produce jobs for Texans?